The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1887-05-07

conduct or pursuit Incompatible Herewith lie
was, he advised Timothy, his dearly beloved son
in the Gospel. TO be IAN example OF the believers in
word"-holding and teaching nothing but what he
taught of God; lin conversation that is. as the
word here implies conduct in every department OF
| life at home and housekeeping the fear of God
ever in view lin charity or love TO God supreme
and to his fellow creatures us all belonging to and
being the objects of the regard and care Of the same
God and Father of ALL; spirit. subiecting himself
To the control and guidance of the Holy Spirit lin
/ iath that is fidelity 10 the trust committed to him
as uuder-shepherd of the flock of Christ. and in
all his relations to society that other believers might
learn from him 10 be true to whatever trust Gud had
committed TO them; and lin purity not only OF
heart but also. and as the legitimate outcome OF It,
purity of intercourse with those around him in So
cieiy.
flake heed to yourself" my dear young brethren.
in all the particulars here brought to view by the
inspired Apostle. relating to character and conduct
BE solicitous that all who believe IN Christ may
see him as 1t were reflected in you and feel that in
cooperating with you the true interests of His king
dom will be promoted Genuine plety and holy
living are essential to fitness for and success in the
ministry No man unpossessed of these should dare
To enter its ranks or be allowed If he thus dare to
remain in them.
would call any other than pious and holy men is at
contrary to all the ideas we have either Of his
character of the nature of the Gospel ministry.
Indeed he said to Israel in Jeremiah's day Il will
give you pastors according to my own heart which
shall feed you with knowledge and understanding;
Before the disciples were started out on their world
redeeming mission, they were required to larry at
Jerusalem until they were endued with power from
on high" II was not until the Spirits plenary baP-
tism came down upon them that they were fully
qualified for their work. The true minister of the
Lord Jesus breaches Gospel TO the people, the per-
sonal bessedness and preciousness of which he
knows and feels in his own heart. His own happy
experience of its transforming. saving power en-
ables him to offer and recommend it TO his dying
fellow men. With such an experimental knowledge
of the transcendant importance and value of re-
ligion TO the world in connection with the terrible
consequences attendant on its rejection. such man
must preach from the heart to the hearts of his
hearers. No git of genius or eloquence, no array
OF learning can compensate for the absence of deep
heartfelt piety in the personal representative OF
near and close fellowship with the Master, in vain
may he hope to do anything in his vineyard, About
him must be moral power, o coincidence of doc
the hearts of those attendant his ministraon of
the word, Dryden described the real ambassador of
Christ. when he said,
Ills preaching much, but more his practice
living sermon of the truths he taught"
But while true piety and holy living are essential,
heed must be taken also to the doctrine" preached.
II must be the pure and unauthorized truth of God.
When the Apostle advises Timothy to Give atten-
dance to reading to exhorat6n; 70 doctrine ne
and expounded by Gods servants: from these Scrip
lures he to furnish himself with the doctrine he
was to preach; he was to mediate upon them, TO
give himself wholly to such preparation, that his
profting. advancement in the knowledge of
those Scriptures, might be apparent to all who heard
him.
portance to all ministers, and especially 70 young
ministers. Our duty emphasized Is set forth by the
Apostle in his Second Epistle to Timothy, Chapter
IV.1-5, which must, to be properly understood, be
read in connection with what goes before in Chap
ter Ill. IL to end.
Continue thou in the things which thou hast
learned and hast been assured oil, knowing of whom
thou hast learned them; and that from child thou
hast known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to
make thee wise unto salvation through faith which
is in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is given by nspi
ration of God and is profitable for doctrine for re-
proof for correction, for instruction in righteous
ness that the of God may be perfect thoroughly
furnished unto all good works charge thee there
fore, before God and the +o5d Jesus Christ. who
shall Hdge hs AagE sng The dead a. ~
all long-sufering and doctrine. For the time will
come when they viii hot endure sound doctrine;
hut after their own lusls shall they heap up to
themselves teachers having itching earS; and they
be turned unto fables. hut watch thou in ali
things; endure Affections; do the work of an evan
gelst; make full proof of thy ministry" OH weghty
wordsl God help us TO understand them fully and
TO obey them heartily.
This emphatic teaching of the minister's duty to
preach only what the Word of God authorizes and
enjons to be preached. does by no means pfeelude
the propriety and possible importance and useful
nf me sba donb wRet6eT any other study WHAT
ever is Important to a Gospel minister. which he
cannot make use of in connection with Bible truth:
But all that which he can thus make use of will add
to his means Of Interesting and benetng the souls
of men; and the range of reading and study which
may afford such aid is far. more extensive than
some ministers seem 10 think, and these ministers
while negligent Of enlarged study, are not remark
able fur diligence in the study of One Book, which
been that ministers who most diligently and care
fully study the Bible instead of being men of small
information general subjects, well posted in
all useful knowledge, the Bible studies having
prompted and enabled them to make available for
good the results of other studies, Certainly the
various branches of study which have been pursued
by you my yauna brethTen as aids in your prepara
ton for the Wofk up6ii Which you arc now soon 10
engef, Should still be pursued, 50 iag az you may
duties of your 6haFgei but in these and whatever
other stndles may engage your attention; let y %
clear and full understanding of and ability to Illus
trate and enforce "the doctrine" Of the Gospel Of
God our Saviour, "who will have" that is whose
will II IS by means OF this preaching that "all men
DO saved and come to the knowledge of the truth.
No preaching is Gospel preaching that has moi In il
that which will lead and bind the FOUL TO Christ,
Take heed then 70 yourselves and 10 the doc.
trine" .:,Thisis SAYING, and worthy asell
| 10 save sinners Of whom am ehi5E" Ever revert
1 TO yo1k own experience az sinner saved by grace,
SRd g win heart Tbn st yd ees s SSS
with the JUNCTION of the Holy Ghost, and save your
selves and them that hear you, every one of them
who shall believe, for unto all such this Gospel is
"the mower OF God unto salvation" And it is the
wisdom Of God"-his wise plan by which alone sal
sRR se II theirs hs' IS the qT nth pleased
God by" what they cAl gshe fSelishness of preach
ing syS as n SsisgSsi this be char
scleri3ed always by Saectiopa ieness, the love of
Christ constructing fop uever by afectation of airs
isterl; By sincere earnestness realizing the tre-
mendous responsibility of your position; by candor,
exhibiting without fear of men or devils the whole
truth as God has revealed it by pointedness, that
none 10 whom 1t applies may fail to see and feel its
power, strangely out OF place. says good writer.
sense of the responsibility attaching 70 his utter
ances and appeals there-who feels not qlously
and carved out hy his preaching. The sooner such
man anits the walls Of ziop the bettertor he own
safety and that Of his fellows, The earnest Baxter
and what model Of q preacher ne was!-said on
| this subject
| II preached as never sure to preach again.
Aud as dying man to dying men,"
| And the same writer on the subject of pointed
preaching, says 1.-THE true minister has no truces
| TO make with sin OF compromises with sinners. He
deals largely with sharp edged tools. The disease
OF the heart must be probed to the quick, or there
is no cure for it. Thou art the man y he feels il 10
be his stern, solemn duty to say with NatbaR.like
aloud and spare not i 0rdet of the Master and
An aged minister, and one of marked ability is re-
ported 10 have said that he never felt satisfied with
| his sermon unless he knew that he had hit some
body" Another said to a young minister, II your
did little good by it, Faithful preaching will hit
somebody" and make men feel hurt at them
selves" but it will just as surely show the sinner
/ how and how alone, all his wounds may be healed,
| by Him who was Himself wounded for our Trans.
toe In reeard 70 The 1 pTom5t6n 81 gfowt in grace
and the holy living of believers, no preaching Is
comparable with that of Christ cruoifed, whose con
strafning love alone is the adequate and all-suhl-
| oient moving power. Many young preachers con.
Germ themselves much about variety of themes but
! they make sad mistake who suppose that any
theme that has no connection with Christ Is suitable
or proper for the pulpit Still there are themes in
almost endless variety entirely suitable and proper
and the dligent and prayerful study of the Scrip
i lures will furnish them. We do not condemn 'seE-
mons for the times" but there are no times in which
the spiritual needs of the people can be met by any
Preaching that does not present Christ as the only
Saviour Of the world, and the only rightful Soyer.
eign of the minds hearts and lives Of men, in all
possible relations and under all possible circum-
| stances.
What a privilege and honor is it, my dear young
brethren, that God confers upon you, In calling you
to this ministry And while With fear and tFenbl
ing you cry, "1ord, who is sufficient for its solemn
| dutids3 how Comforting and sustaining are the
words Of your Saviour the great Head Of the Church
| the Shepherd and Bishop of Souls. 80 am
| with you always And how glorious are the re-
j wards promised to you If faithful, both In this
| world and in the world TO eemel Surely, noamonn
Of Toll sacrifice, devotion that you can render in
such q work. is more than you ought cheerfully e
render. Alter nearly half a century in the work
let assure you, that you Will find il to be a work
indeed, in every department and phase OF II, anc
not q pastime II will require, demand, absorb all
your faculties and energies but at the same time
through Gods abundant grace, viii afford you the
richest and purest Joy and satisfaction, the joy o
Gods presence and blessing, and the satisfaction 81
saving your soul aud the souls Of all who heal
and heed the Gospel which you declare. May you
be endowed with the JUNCTION Of the Holy Spirit and
have many seals 70 your ministry, is my earnest anC
fetEenf prayer Be true to your clear convictions
right and duty, and herein exercise yourselves thai
you may have at all times conscience void of Of